DELANCEY BAR

168 Delancey Street (Cross street is Clinton)
[J, M, or Z to Essex; F to Delancey]

I have no idea how I got here or away, but I had a good time. The rooftop garden is way snazzy, offers an incredible view of the oft-ignored Williamsburg bridge, and allows smoking! The lounge on the main level has a DJ and comfy chairs! Apparently there's a venue downstairs with bands and things, but I didn't get involved in all of that.

LA TAZA DE ORO

96 Eighth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets)
[Take the A, C, E to 14th or the L to 8th]

I was in the neighborhood, needing to eat before a swanky event and not having alot of money, so initially I was done in by the bodega-style awning. But inside, it looks like a truck stop of yesteryear: narrow room, old school cashier, long counter, some tables and chairs along the side. Very interestink. But what sold me was, well, everything. The price was so right, it was almost wrong and the waiter freshened my beans for me ! No really, he asked if I wanted more beans because the plate had gone cold and then BROUGHT ME MORE BEANS FREE OF CHARGE ! The food itself was pretty standard - exactly what you would expect, except maybe 1.5 times better. Everything was fresh (seemingly) but wildly fast; no sooner had we placed our order than the plantain and roasted chicken were on the table. Over the plates, Jessi and I agreed that this was exactly what we'd been needing. Its strange how outside of New York City, I say "Spanish food" and get offered a burrito. Pollo arrosto, yellow rice, red beans, chimichurris, fried plantains, sweet plantains, hot sauce; kids, its all here.

CHUTNEY

(roughly at 215 East Houston and Avenue A; across from Mercury Lounge)
[F to Delancey Street]
After getting pretty ripped at a bar nearby (when I figure out where I was exactly, that'll get blogged, too), I got a hankering for some curry. So Alex and I hightailed it to this dhaba (think Indian fast food) that's practically underground where, as he attested, "All the cabbies go, so it has to be good." The food is the most authentic Indian I've ever had - largely because its alot of vegetarian food for very cheap. We split a little bit of everything for $5 - $7 once we added some meat - and got pretty full. Or at least, moderately sober. Same thing.

TOWN TAVERN NYC

(134 West 3rd Street)
[just about anything and its mother to West 4th Street]
www.towntavernnyc.com

Its Cinco de Mayo, I'm finally of age, in the greatest city in the world, but no one to drink with ... hmm ... Thankfully, Tam and his fake-girlfriend came to the rescue. The tavern is a pretty standard sports bar, but the Cinco de Mayo special couldn't be beat - free Coronas from 5-6?! Are you kidding? Nice crowd too - from the cheap college students to the suits who just showed up after work. AND they had free burritos - I know I'll be back.

NOWHERE

(322 E. 14th Street)
[L to 1st Avenue]
Found myself at this gay-friendly bar with my pal Marie - the jukebox is well stocked and free, but I have no idea how to get my music to play. Then again, given that all the music is good and great, leaving it up to random ain't such a bad idea. The drinks were pretty straight; I was pretty trashed by the time we got schooled in pool by these Belgian lesbians. The pool table seemed small, but I'm both bad at pool and horrible at approximating when I'm drunk. The clientele was fun too - the crowd calmed down, so we all hung out at the bar ... until I had to pile my friend into a cab and take her home. Good times.